Anticipation

Life continues to bring new opportunities and with each one we can choose to anticipate the best or dread the worst. In my line of work it's easy to become cynical and find the things that are "wrong" with the church and the people that are part of it. But the truth is, if we'll accept that fact that every human being has their own way of doing things, their own style, beliefs, biases and desires, then we'll go a long way toward putting aside the judment that sends us toward the dark side of dread.
I am anticipating with great excitement the change that is coming in our life. We are about to move from a city of over 200,000 to a town of about 3,000. I'll be working with a church of about 120 instead of 220. We could wring our hands and worry about the services that aren't available in that small town or we can choose to settle in to the lifestyle that comes with being removed from the hustle and bustle of the larger city. We could worry about whether or not there will be enough people and money to do the things the church needs to do or we can look forward to unifying the body for involvement that in percentages far exceeds what most churches experience.
Anticipation brings excitement and renewed strength. Dread pulls us down and blocks our desire to move forward. As we anticipate our new home, work and area of play we are excited for the opportunities we have been presented.